BOURNEMOUTH School for Girls has won an award for the way in which it helps improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.

The grammar was the only school in Bournemouth, Poole or Dorset to feature in a list of 140 schools across the country in the first stage of the Pupil Premium Awards.

Each school has been presented with £5,000 and has now been invited to apply for further prizes worth up to £250,000.

Final prizes will be awarded at a ceremony hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

The Pupil Premium Awards reward schools that are able to provide evidence of effective strategies to improve the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and show sustained improvement in raising their attainment. The pupil premium is extra funding schools receive for every disadvantaged pupil they teach and is worth £2.5 billion this year alone.

Schools Minister David Laws said: “The pupil premium is building a fairer society with opportunity for everyone. I would encourage all of the secondary schools which have received a prize to share their successful approach with other schools so they can learn from their experience.

“I hope all schools will continue to learn from this excellent practice and ensure they are using their pupil premium effectively, so that they too may be in the running for a prize in 2016.”

Head of Bournemouth School for girls Alistair Brien said: “I am delighted that we have been recognised nationally for the support we give to all our pupils.

“I am also concerned that there should be no barriers to any of our girls reaching their full potential and making the most of their opportunities at our school.”